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Walrus colony hauled out on a Svalbard beach with a glacier behind, photographed on a Quark Expeditions cruise

Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine · 17 days

Scotland to Spitsbergen: Puffins, Sea Ice and Wildlife

Aberdeen to Longyearbyen, with hotel nights and the charter flight home to Helsinki included. One sailing in May 2027, one in May 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$11,751 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Group of sea kayakers paddling past sea ice in Svalbard on a Quark Expeditions Arctic cruise

17 days, Aberdeen to Longyearbyen

From the Neolithic islands to the spring ice

Few routes change as much in seventeen days. Ultramarine leaves Aberdeen in early May for the Neolithic sites and seabird cliffs of Orkney and Shetland, where puffins are back on the nest, then crosses three days of the Norwegian Sea to Bjørnøya, Bear Island, with some of the largest bird cliffs in the Barents Sea. From there the ship enters the ice: Storfjorden on the east side of Spitsbergen, then Hornsund, Bellsund, Krossfjorden, Smeerenburgfjorden and Isfjorden on the west, all still in their spring white, with walrus on the shores and the ice edge close to the coast. A new Quark route for 2027, built for travellers who want the seabirds of Scotland and the ice of Svalbard in one journey.

A new route, and one we like for guests who want the seabirds of Scotland before the ice of Svalbard, with the Shetland and Orkney days as a gentle start. We shape the rest around you, the cabin, flights from Australia into Aberdeen and home from Helsinki, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

  • 10 ports
  • 3 countries
  • 17 days

Signature sites

Seven places between Scotland and the ice

Two island groups, one lonely island and five fjords, each reached by Zodiac or on foot with the expedition team, weather and ice permitting.

Quark Expeditions ship Ultramarine with its helicopter deck anchored in a mountain-lined Arctic fjord

Orkney

Neolithic sites older than the pyramids, bird cliffs and close-knit communities, on the first full day.

Day by day

Seventeen days, in outline

The sea sets the crossing and the ice sets Svalbard. The outline below is the shape of the journey; the full programme comes with the proposal we write for you.

A hotel night in Aberdeen, then embarkation on Ultramarine.

Aboard Ultramarine

Ultramarine is Quark Expeditions’ flagship: 199 guests, two twin-engine helicopters for flightseeing and heli-landings where the itinerary allows, twenty quick-launch Zodiacs and a ready room for every guest. Quark has sailed the polar regions since 1991 and runs its ships as expedition platforms first: the expedition team leads every outing, kayaking and the polar plunge are on offer, and the dining is one open seating with wine and beer at dinner.

Ultramarine
Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine ship with a helicopter on its helipad

Zodiacs, twenty of them

The Panorama Lounge aboard the Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine

The bow deck in the ice

Balena Restaurant aboard the Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine ship

Kayaking, for those who book it

The Tundra Spa aboard the Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine ship

Landings with the expedition team

A Balcony Suite Double Bed Cabin aboard Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine

Lectures between outings

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

Fourteen nights aboard Ultramarine, a hotel night in Aberdeen before the voyage and one in Helsinki after, the charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki, all meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board, beer and wine at dinner, coffee and tea around the clock, all Zodiac outings, shore landings and guided walks led by the expedition team, lectures and presentations, a Quark expedition parka to keep and the use of boots on board, group transfers listed in the programme, port fees and a photographic journal of the voyage

Flights from Australia and home, meals beyond those listed, kayaking, the polar plunge and other adventure options booked in advance, travel insurance, visa fees and personal expenses, gratuities to the ship’s crew

Quark includes the hotel night in Aberdeen, the hotel night in Helsinki and the charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki at the end. We arrange your flights from Australia to Aberdeen and home from Helsinki, so the whole journey is one booking.


Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

Svalbard can also be reached from Tromsø or Reykjavík aboard Swan Hellenic, or sailed in spring from Helsinki. Each voyage shows its from price in the currency its operator publishes, Australian or US dollars; our specialists help you choose the one that suits the way you like to travel.

All expeditions
10 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$10,371

Svalbard in Spring: Sea Ice, Pristine Snow and Wildlife

Helsinki to Helsinki, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and hotel nights included. Eleven sailings between April 2027 and June 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$10,371 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$22,525

Sailing North to Svalbard

Tromsø or Reykjavík to Longyearbyen. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$22,525 per person, charter flight home from Longyearbyen included, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

14 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$17,131

Spitsbergen Circumnavigation: A Rite of Passage

Helsinki to Helsinki, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and hotel nights included. Sailings in June 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$17,131 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$23,725

Ultimate Svalbard

Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen, Copenhagen charter flights included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$23,725 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Aurora Expeditions
From A$29,205

Svalbard Odyssey

Oslo to Oslo, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and a hotel night in Oslo included. Three sailings in 2027, three in 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$29,205 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

14 Nights
Aurora Expeditions
From A$28,414

Jewels of the Arctic: Svalbard and East Greenland

Oslo to Reykjavík, or the reverse, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$28,414 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Passengers taking a Polar Plunge from a cruise ship in Antarctica

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 to 2029

Seventeen days aboard Ultramarine, Aberdeen to Longyearbyen. The 2029 season is yet to be announced. Ask us before you compare: our offers for Arctic Cruise guests come on top, and we tell you which sailing is the best value for the way you want to travel.

The first sailing of this new route. Aberdeen and Helsinki hotel nights and the charter flight included.

Quark lists a second sailing in May 2028; we come back to you with the dates and the Australian fare.

Tell us the month and the cabin you have in mind and we hold your place on our list, then come back to you with dates and Australian fares the day they open.

Made to measure

Tell us your Arctic, we build the rest

Every guest sails differently. Tell us what you are hoping for, the ice, the wildlife, the light, who you are travelling with, and we match it to the right sailing, the right cabin and the right year, with flights from Australia and our own offers included. One Arctic Cruise specialist stays with you from the first call until you are home.